Velocity analysis using angle-domain common image gathers

ABSTRACT

Migration velocity analysis is performed using Angle-Domain Common Image Gathers (ACIGs). When the correct velocity model is employed for migration, all ACIG events corresponding to a subsurface location are aligned along a horizontal line. Residual moveout can be performed on each ACIG with a suite of trial residual velocity values, according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation. A best-fit residual velocity value that leads to horizontally-aligned events upon moveout can be selected by generating a distribution of semblance (amplitude summed over a given depth) over residual velocity. Best-fit residual velocity values corresponding to selected subsurface points can be employed to update the initial velocity model using a vertical update, normal ray update, or tomographic update method.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/223,458, filed 08/07/2000, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to geophysical prospecting using seismic signals, and in particular to a method of estimating seismic velocity.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Effectively searching for oil and gas reservoirs often requires imaging the reservoirs using three-dimensional (3-D) seismic data. Seismic data is recorded at the earth's surface or in wells, and an accurate model of the underlying geologic structure is constructed by processing the data. 3-D seismic imaging is perhaps the most computationally intensive task facing the oil and gas industry today. The size of typical 3-D seismic surveys can be in the range of hundreds of gigabytes to tens of terabytes of data. Processing such large amounts of data often poses serious computational challenges.

[0004] Obtaining high-quality earth images necessary for contemporary reservoir development and exploration is particularly difficult in areas with complex geologic structures. In such regions, conventional seismic technology may either incorrectly reconstruct the position of geological features or create no usable image at all. Moreover, as old oil fields are depleted, the search for hydrocarbons has moved to smaller reservoirs and increasingly hostile environments, where drilling is more expensive. Advanced imaging techniques capable of providing improved knowledge of the subsurface detail in areas with complex geologic structures are becoming increasingly important.

[0005] Obtaining high-quality images of subsurface structures typically requires having an accurate velocity model of the subsurface region of interest. One commonly-used method of improving the accuracy of velocity models is Migration Velocity Analysis (MVA). A known MVA approach is based on Common Reflection Point (CRP) gathers generated by 3-D prestack Kirchhoff migration. For further information on CRP gathers see Stork, “Reflection Tomography in the Postmigrated Domain,” Geophysics 57:680-692 (1992), and Deregowski, “Common Offset Migration and Velocity Analysis,” First Break 8(6):224-234 (1990). The CRP gathers contain redundant structural information which can be used to correct the velocity model. Conventional MVA using CRP gathers can suffer from accuracy and complexity problems, however.

SUMMARY

[0006] The present invention provides geophysical velocity analysis methods comprising the steps of: establishing a seismic data set and a velocity model corresponding to a seismic exploration volume; generating a set of angle-domain common image gathers for the volume from the seismic data set and the velocity model; for each of the gathers, generating a plurality of moveout paths z corresponding to a plurality of residual velocity values, wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta \quad v}} \right)}^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

[0007] wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; selecting a best-fit residual velocity value from the plurality of residual velocity values, the best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to a best-fit moveout path; and updating the velocity model using the best-fit residual velocity value.

[0008] In one embodiment, the moveout paths are generated by performing residual moveout on the ACIG data according to the ACIG moveout equation, computing a semblance value for each depth and residual velocity value, and selecting the residual velocity values corresponding to maximum-semblance points as best-fit residual velocity values. In another embodiment, each moveout path is generated synthetically, directly from the ACIG moveout equation for a given zero-angle depth. Each synthetically-generated moveout path is then compared to an observed event path in the ACIG corresponding to that zero-angle depth. The residual velocity value corresponding to the moveout path that best fits the observed event path is then selected as a best-fit moveout path.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, different ACIGs are generated for the same location using a suite of trial velocities. The trial velocity that leads to horizontal alignment of events in its corresponding ACIG is then selected as a best-fit trial velocity, and is used in updating the velocity model.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010]FIG. 1 is a flow chart outlining a preferred migration velocity analysis method of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary Angle-Domain Common Image Gather (ACIG) according to the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an ACIG and a set of associated moveout paths corresponding to a suite of residual velocities, according to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows another exemplary ACIG and a corresponding semblance panel, according to the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 5-A schematically illustrates a vertical velocity update process according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 5-B schematically illustrates a normal ray velocity update process according to the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 5-C schematically illustrates a tomographic velocity update process according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following description illustrates the present invention by way of example and not necessarily by way of limitation. In the following description, unless explicitly specified otherwise, the term velocity will be understood to encompass both speeds and slownesses. As the skilled artisan appreciates, it is understood that the equations disclosed herein are not changed by the mere use of other equivalent variables (velocity instead of slowness, angle instead of ray parameter, etc.) to represent the same equation. Thus, the statement that a path is generated according to an equation is understood to encompass generating the path by any method that satisfies the equation, regardless of the particular names of the variables employed in that method. Any reference to an element is understood to refer to at least one element.

[0018]FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the steps of a preferred velocity analysis method of the present invention.

[0019] 1. Initialization

[0020] In step 1, a seismic data set and a velocity model for a seismic exploration volume of interest are provided by well known methods. The seismic data set preferably includes real data recorded on the earth's surface or within wells using geophones or hydrophones. The seismic data set can also include synthetic data corresponding to the earth's surface, to some underground surface or other locations. Synthetic data may be generated from real data, other synthetic data, velocity data, and/or petrophysical rock data. The velocity model is a 3-D array describing the distribution of velocities on a grid within the volume of interest. The grid is preferably a Cartesian (x-y-z) grid, although spherical, tetragonal, hexagonal or other grids may also be used.

[0021] 2. Generating Angle-Domain Common Image Gathers (ACIGs)

[0022] In step 2, a plurality of Angle-Domain Common Image Gathers (ACIGs) are generated by pre-stack depth migration (PSDM) performed using the data set and velocity model for the volume of interest. Each ACIG corresponds to one location within the volume of interest, and contains migrated amplitudes for that location arranged as a function of incident angle parameter. The ACIGs are preferably generated using a wave-equation migration method, but can in general be generated using other methods such as Kirchhoff migration.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows an exemplary ACIG generated according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the vertical axis denotes depth while the horizontal axis denotes an incident angle parameter p. The incident angle parameter, also termed the ray parameter, is indicative of the angle of incidence of plane-waves incident at each location of interest. Each trace in FIG. 2 corresponds to a plane wave corresponding to a given angle parameter. Each trace represents the migrated amplitudes for its corresponding angle parameter.

[0024] If the velocity model used to generate the ACIGs is accurate, the migrated events are imaged at the same depth—i.e. are lined up horizontally. If the velocity model is not accurate, the migrated events are usually not flat on an ACIG. The velocity model can be changed such that the migrated events on a ACIG are horizontally aligned, as explained in more detail below.

[0025] 3. Computing Residual Velocity Values

[0026] Referring back to FIG. 1, in step 3, a residual velocity value is computed for each ACIG as described below. The residual velocities are subsequently used for updating the initial velocity model.

[0027] Consider a time-migrated slant stack gather with traces ordered by ray parameter. The slant stack time is governed by the parabolic moveout paths

τ²=τ₀ ²(1−p ² v ²),  [1]

[0028] wherein τ₀ is the zero-offset or zero-ray parameter two-way traveltime, τ is the traveltime at a select ray parameter, p is the ray parameter, and v² is the RMS velocity squared.

[0029] The parabolic moveout of eq. [1] can be transformed from the time domain to the depth domain. For a given ray parameter, the depth position of an event on an ACIG obeys the angle-domain residual moveout equation $\begin{matrix} {{z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{\left( {1 - {p^{2}v^{2}}} \right)}{\left( {1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}} \right)}}}},} & \lbrack 2\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0030] wherein z₀ is the depth at zero-ray parameter, z is the depth at a select ray parameter, v² is the actual RMS velocity squared, and {circumflex over (v)}² is the trial RMS velocity squared.

[0031] The moveout path of eq. [2] can be further rendered as a function of RMS residual velocity as $\begin{matrix} {{z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{\left( {1 - {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta \quad v}} \right)}^{2}} \right.}{\left( {1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}} \right)}}}},} & \lbrack 3\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0032] wherein Δv is the RMS residual velocity. Equation [3] describes the dependence of the depth difference Δz=z-z₀ on residual velocity Δv.

[0033] In the preferred embodiment, residual moveout governed by eq. [3] is performed on each ACIG for the region of interest with a suite of trial RMS residual velocities Δv. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an arbitrary event path 20 of an ACIG, and a set of associated moveout paths 22 generated by performing residual moveout according to eq. [3] on the data of event path 20. For simplicity, FIG. 3 shows only one event path 20 representing the alignment of a set of migrated events. Residual moveout can be performed on the entire data of the ACIG, not only on the data of event path 20. In the preferred embodiment, residual moveout is performed on all data of each ACIG, although in general residual moveout may be performed only on selected parts of the data of each ACIG.

[0034] Each moveout path 22 uniquely corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv. Each moveout path 22 is generated by effectively shifting the events of event path 20 vertically by the difference between z and z₀ given by eq. [3]. Residual moveout effectively moves each event located at a depth Z along event path 20 to a new depth z₀ along a corresponding moveout path 22. For example, for a given residual velocity Δv corresponding to a moveout path 24 a, an event 30 along event path 20 is effectively shifted to an event 32 along path 24 a. The depth difference between events 30 and 32 is given by eq. [3].

[0035] When the correct residual velocity value Δv is used, the corresponding moveout path 22 is substantially horizontal. Some moveout paths 22 may curve upward at higher ray parameters, as illustrated by an exemplary moveout path 24 a. The upward curvature of moveout path 24 a indicates that the velocity value corresponding to moveout path 24 a is too low. Similarly, some moveout paths may curve downward at higher ray parameters, as illustrated by an exemplary moveout path 24 b. The downward curvature of moveout path 24 b indicates that its corresponding velocity value is too high. Event path 20 curves downward at higher ray parameters, indicating that the trial velocity used to generate the corresponding ACIG is too high. A best-fit moveout path 26 corresponds to a quasi-horizontal alignment of migrated events. Best-fit moveout path 26 corresponds to a best-fit residual velocity value Δv.

[0036] Preferably, a semblance distribution over RMS residual velocity is then generated. FIG. 4 illustrates an arbitrary ACIG 40 and a corresponding semblance distribution panel 44 for ACIG 40. The vertical axis denotes depth, while the horizontal axis denotes angle parameter p in ACIG 40, and residual velocity Δv in semblance panel 44. Semblance panel 44 is centered around Δv=0. The value at each (depth, residual velocity) point in semblance panel 44 is represented by the shade at that point.

[0037] In semblance panel 44, each semblance value for a given depth and residual velocity is equal to the sum of the amplitudes of the migrated events corresponding to that given depth and velocity. If, for a given residual velocity, the corresponding migrated events are aligned horizontally, the semblance corresponding to that residual velocity and to the depth of the migrated events will have a peak value at the zero line. Thus, peak semblance values correspond to the best-fit residuals that get the events of interest aligned horizontally.

[0038] Since residual moveout is applied over a range of illumination angles, ACIG residual analysis assumes that the scale of overburden velocity variations is greater than a cable length. Thus, lateral smoothing of residual slowness in velocity updating is preferably at least on the order of a cable length.

[0039] In the preferred embodiment, as described above, a set of moveout paths is generated by vertically shifting the data of each ACIG by a depth varying amount according to eq. [3], with a suite of residual velocity values Δv. Alternatively, a set of moveout paths can be first generated synthetically, without reference to the data of the corresponding ACIG, and then compared to the events of the ACIG. Each moveout path is generated by selecting a value of z₀ and a value of Δv, and then computing z(p) according to eq. [3] for the selected values of z₀ and Δv. The computed function z(p) defines the moveout path corresponding to the selected values of z₀ and Δv. All the moveout paths corresponding to a given value of z₀ are then compared to the event path of the ACIG that corresponds to that value of z₀. The comparison can be performed using a curve-fitting algorithm such as a least-squares algorithm. The moveout path that best fits the ACIG event path is selected as a best-fit moveout path, and the corresponding residual velocity Δv is selected as a best-fit residual velocity.

[0040] In another embodiment, a subset of events along an event path are manually or automatically selected. For example, the events corresponding to predetermined angle parameters p can be automatically selected. A user can also manually pick the points to be used by clicking on an ACIG representation. Then, residual moveout or curve-fitting is performed only for the selected subset of events, rather than for the entire ACIG or for entire event paths. The selected subset of events then effectively forms the event path of interest.

[0041] In yet another embodiment, a set of ACIGs is generated with a suite of trial RMS velocities. Each ACIG in the set is generated from the same data set, but using a different trial velocity. The trial velocity that leads to horizontal alignment of events in its corresponding ACIG is then selected as a best-fit velocity. The horizontal alignment of events can be determined by semblance analysis as described above.

[0042] 4. Picking Residuals

[0043] In Step 4 (FIG. 1), the best-fit residuals are picked for later use in updating the velocity model. The best-fit residuals are preferably picked automatically, by selecting the residuals corresponding to the maximum semblance at each depth. The best-fit residuals can also be picked manually by a user from a display of a semblance scan. A user may visually evaluate a semblance scan and click on select semblance peaks at each depth of interest. Selecting semblance peaks effectively selects best-fit residuals corresponding to the selected peaks.

[0044] In one approach, the residual values at all analysis points are used in updating the velocity model. Such an approach has the advantage that it does not require the selection of a subset of points, and requires minimal manual intervention by a user.

[0045] An algorithm which takes into account residual values at all analysis points can be adversely affected by noise in the data. The effects of such noise can be reduced by tying residuals to geological horizons and performing horizon-based velocity updates. Geological horizons which usually exhibit strong reflectivity and good lateral continuity can be picked from stacked section, stacked PSDM, or poststack migration images. A user can visually inspect such an image, and click on horizon points to select them for further processing.

[0046] Following the selection by the user of a set of horizon points, two levels of linear interpolation or extrapolation can be employed in the tying step. The first level is the lateral interpolation of scattered points representing identified geological horizons. The scattered points can be horizon points previously manually selected by a user. The interpolated horizon points thus construct regularized horizon surfaces. The second level is the vertical interpolation or tying of residual values at analysis points on horizon surfaces for each ACIG. As a result of residual mapping, every grid point on a regularized horizon surface is assigned with a value of RMS residual velocity. Subsequent velocity update steps are then performed selectively, using only the subset of residuals corresponding to the selected horizons. Several methods can be used to back-project residuals tied to horizons to the overburden layers, as described in more detail below.

[0047] A level of sophistication can be added by using a layer freezing and layer stripping approach, which has the advantage of eliminating compounded velocity estimation errors from upper layers for estimation of lower layers. Overall, the layer stripping approach renders velocity estimation in a more stable and optimized manner compared to multi-layer simultaneous update. Given a layer with fixed velocity, residual values are deemed to be zero, implying events within this frozen layer have been presumably flattened on ACIGs. Residual picking with the layer-freezing feature prevents contamination of velocity due to noise and unwanted modification in iterative updating. It also better conditions the start state of residual picking and calculation of RMS velocity for unfixed layers.

[0048] 5. Updating the Velocity Model

[0049] In step 5 (FIG. 1), the velocity model is updated using the picked residual velocities. Three progressively more sophisticated methods can be used for updating the velocity model: vertical ray update, normal ray update, and tomographic update. Each method is described in detail below.

[0050] 5A. Vertical Velocity Update

[0051]FIG. 5-A illustrates schematically a vertical velocity update process for three locations 40 a-c situated along a reflector 44. Each location 40 a-c corresponds to an individual ACIG. Reflector 44 is situated above another reflector 46, which in turn is situated above an imaging target region of interest 48. The best-fit residual velocity values computed for the ACIG corresponding to location 40 a are used to update the velocity model along a vertical line 50 a extending upward from location 40 a. At each point along vertical line 50 a, the velocity model is updated by the sum of the background (trial) velocity and the computed best-fit residual velocity corresponding to that point. Similarly, the best-fit residuals computed from the ACIGs corresponding to locations 40 b-c are used to update the velocity model along vertical lines 50 b-c extending upward from locations 40 b-c, respectively.

[0052] The vertical velocity update method is preferred for preliminary velocity analysis in cases of flat or nearly flat layered structures and smooth velocity variations, because of the 1D layering assumption of the method. For further information on vertical velocity update methods, see for example the article by Deregowski, “Common Offset Migration and Velocity Analysis,” First Break 8(6):224-234 (1990).

[0053] The Dix inversion formula can be applied to RMS residual velocity for estimating interval residual velocity values. For information on Dix inversion, see the article by Dix, “Seismic Velocities from Surface Measurements,” Geophysics 20:68-86 (1955).

[0054] A first step involves lateral smoothing of horizon-based residual velocity distribution individually for each horizon. The lateral smoothing scale should be about the size of a cable length. The second step should perform a depth-to-time conversion for the horizons and the associated residual values. This conversion is followed by several steps to derive interval residual slowness from RMS residual velocity.

[0055] In one embodiment, RMS residual velocity is converted to RMS residual velocity squared. The latter is a function of the former and background RMS velocity. The sign of residual variables indicates the moveout direction of events at analysis points on ACIGs. For example, a negative value of RMS residual velocity corresponds to a down-going swing on ACIGs resulted from overmigration. Then, RMS residual velocity squared is converted to interval residual velocity squared. Interval residual velocity squared is calculated from RMS residual velocity squared based on the Dix method. The assumption made with the Dix method, i.e. small offset data and horizontal layering, still holds valid for converting residual values. In practice, the strict assumption can be relaxed to a certain degree (e.g. applying to slightly dipping layers) without sacrificing much loss in accuracy. The denominator in the Dix formula is preferably constrained to be non-zero valued. Finally, interval residual velocity squared is converted to interval residual slowness. Interval residual slowness can be expressed as a function of interval residual velocity squared and initial interval velocity. The square root term needs to be constrained so that any negative residual velocity squared never exceeds the initial velocity squared in magnitude.

[0056] In another embodiment, RMS residual velocity is converted to interval residual velocity. Interval velocity is then calculated from RMS residual velocity using the Dix method. Then, interval residual velocity is converted to interval residual slowness. Interval residual slowness is expressed as a function of interval residual velocity and initial interval velocity.

[0057] Based on the fact that linear smoothing of a slowness distribution keeps the kinematic fidelity of wave propagation, it is often desirable to smooth residual slowness values instead of residual velocity before adding the residual values to the background velocity. A triangle filter can be used to smooth a residual slowness field. The filter has an apparent effect of reducing a spike to a symmetric triangle.

[0058] After smoothing and filtering, the relations

v=v ₀ +Δv,  [4a] $\begin{matrix} {{{\Delta \quad v} = {\frac{1}{s_{0} + {\Delta \quad S}} - \frac{1}{s_{0}}}},} & \left\lbrack {4b} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0059] wherein s₀ is an initial slowness field, can be used to derive residual slowness from residual velocity or residual velocity from residual slowness. Residual velocity values have the opposite signs of residual slowness values. Migration with too slow a velocity results in positive values of residual velocity, implying that the initial migration velocity should be increased. The final velocity value is the sum of the background and residual velocity at every grid point.

[0060] 5B. Normal Ray Update

[0061]FIG. 5-B illustrates schematically a normal ray velocity update process for the three locations 40 a-c situated along reflector 44. As described above with reference to FIG. 5-A, each location 40 a-c corresponds to an individual ACIG. The best-fit residual velocity values computed for the ACIG corresponding to location 40 a are used to update the velocity model along a normal ray 60 a extending generally upward from location 40 a, toward the earth surface. Normal ray 60 a is perpendicular to reflector 44 at location 40 a. At each point along normal ray 60 a, the velocity model is updated by the sum of the background (trial) velocity and the computed best-fit residual velocity corresponding to that point. Similarly, the best-fit residuals computed from the ACIGs corresponding to locations 40 b-c are used to update the velocity model along normal rays 60 b-c extending upward from locations 40 b-c, respectively. Each normal ray 60 b-c is perpendicular to reflector 44 at its corresponding intersection location 40 b-c.

[0062] One limitation of vertical updating methods lies in its simplification of backprojection methods. In cases where layers are flat or slightly dipping, vertical backprojection works well. However, in dealing with more complex structures, vertical backprojection can wrongfully misplace residual velocity values. For example, in cases of steeply dipping layers, reflections occur along an oblique direction normal to the dipping horizon instead of along the vertical direction.

[0063] Although waves may illuminate a steeply dipping surface at different incidence angles, it is usually those waves with small incidence angles with respect to the horizon normal that get recorded at the surface. A specular ray normal to a dipping surface may better represent wave propagation in this case. The advantage of normal ray update lies in its ability to back project residual velocities along a more accurate path to better account for reflections from steeply dipping reflectors. However, there is also more computational cost involved with normal ray update than vertical update because accurate ray path of a specular normal ray needs to be determined by ray tracing.

[0064] To perform horizon-based interlayer velocity updating, intersection points of raypaths and select horizons are determined. The intersections are converted from the depth to the time domain using a migration velocity. Two-way traveltimes associated with the intersections can be then used in the Dix formula to convert RMS residual velocity squared to interval residual velocity squared and further reduced to residual velocity. Alternatively, the two-way traveltimes can be used to convert RMS residual velocity to interval residual velocity.

[0065] In cases of flat layers, these traveltimes determined from ray tracing are equal to those used in vertical update. But in cases of steeply dipping layers, the traveltimes calculated in normal ray update can be different from those in vertical udpate. The greater the dip angle is, the bigger the difference is between the two sets of traveltimes.

[0066] Since normal rays may cross each other in areas with complex structural and velocity variations, velocity updating may become non-unique at certain places in the model. Theoretically, linear regression can be done to seek an optimal distribution of all back projected residual values. A simplified implementation is to linearly average all the back projected residual values at select updating points.

[0067] 5C. Tomographic Update

[0068]FIG. 5-C illustrates schematically tomographic MVA for postmigrated data. An image point (reflection event) 120 is illuminated by plane waves at multiple different ray parameters (corresponding to different angles), as illustrated by the arrow pairs 122 a-b, 124 a-b. Each arrow pair corresponds to a source and a receiver, as exemplified by source 126 a and receiver 126 b. On the ACIG for point 120, the depth of reflection event 120 corresponding to arrow pair 122 a-b may differ from the depth corresponding to arrow pair 124 a-b. The difference in depth may depend on an inaccurate velocity model for a subsurface region such as region 130. The velocity inaccuracy in region 130 affects ACIGs for points other than point 120, as illustrated by the point 132 and the corresponding arrows 134.

[0069] Reflection tomography performed in the post migrated domain has several advantages over standard tomography performed on prestack data. In general, postmigrated events are easier to pick, data volume is more manageable, and the whole process is more robust. The procedure converts the ACIG picks to velocity changes using 3-D tomographic backprojection. As in the previously described methods, the objective is to flatten ACIGs. For further information on reflection tomography, see for example Stork et al., “An Implementation of Tomographic Velocity Analysis,” Geophysics 56(4):483-485 (1991), and Stork, “Combining Reflection Tomography with Migration Velocity Analysis,” 61^(st) Meeting of the European Association of Exploration Geophysicists, Extended Abstracts, 256-257 (1992).

[0070] Tomographic migration velocity analysis is superior to both vertical and normal ray updating methods in its velocity-resolving capability. In a vertical updating method, the seismic energy is assumed to propagate only vertically. In normal ray updating methods, the energy propagation and sources of migration errors are treated more accurately along a specular ray normal to geologic horizons. In tomographic MVA, a fan of rays with correct wave propagation geometry are used to back project residual velocities to the places where the errors originated.

[0071] Generally, the extent of the depth deviation corresponds to a residual traveltime associated with a ray pair from a source point to an image point and back to a receiver point. Several ray pairs through the same image point or reflection point with different ray parameters approximate down-going wave propagation from seismic sources to the image point and up-going propagation from the image point to receivers on the surface. In 3-D cases, each tube of rays from an analysis common image point illuminates part of the overburden velocity, and several overlapping ray tubes can be used to reconstruct the overburden velocity properties in a tomographic (e.g. global optimization) manner.

[0072] Tomographic MVA can be considered to comprise two basic components: forward modeling and tomographic reconstruction. The latter determines a residual velocity distribution through linear optimization or regression. Forward modeling in tomographic MVA provides residual traveltimes for tomography. It calculates residual traveltimes associated with rays taking off from each common image point. Horizon-based tomographic MVA does forward modeling only for those ACIGs tied to geological horizons.

[0073] To calculate residual traveltimes, residual velocities picked from ACIGs are first converted to depth deviations at each ray parameter along parabolic moveout according to eq. [3]. Residual traveltimes associated with each ray pair can be further refined by taking into account ray-parameter-dependent depth deviations using the vertical component of incoming and outgoing ray parameter at the reflection point. The residual traveltimes are then given by

Δτ=(p _(sz) +p _(rz))Δz,  [9]

[0074] wherein Δz is the ray parameter-dependent depth deviation, and p_(sz) and p_(rz) are the ray parameters of the down-going and up-going wave, respectively, at the reflection point, measured with respect to the vertical direction.

[0075] As a special case, in the postmigrated 2D domain, the deviation from flatness of ACIGs gives residual depths

Δτ=2sΔz cos φcos θ,  [6]

[0076] wherein Δs is the slowness above the reflector, φ is the reflection dip, θ is the angle of the incident ray with respect to the normal to the reflector surface, and Δτ is the residual traveltime caused by the extra path length due to the residual depth Δz.

[0077] The residual travel time Δτ is linearly related to the residual slowness Δs and the differential path length ΔΓ by $\begin{matrix} {{\Delta\tau} = {\int_{\Gamma}{\Delta \quad s{{\Gamma}.}}}} & \lbrack 7\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0078] To correct for perturbations in residual traveltimes due to reflector geometry and location, eq. [7] can be replaced with $\begin{matrix} {{{\Delta\tau} = {{\int_{\Gamma}{\Delta \quad s{\Gamma}}} - {\frac{p_{sz} + p_{rz}}{s_{\bot}}{\int_{\Gamma_{\bot}}{\Delta \quad s{\Gamma_{\downarrow}}}}}}},} & \lbrack 8\rbrack \end{matrix}$

[0079] wherein s₁, is the slowness at the normal reflection point corresponding to the residual traveltime Δτ, and dΓ₁ is the differential path length along a specular ray normal to the reflective surface (geologic horizon) corresponding to the residual traveltime Δτ. The second term of the right hand side of equation [8] is a correction term which accounts for perturbations in residual traveltimes due to reflector geometry and location.

[0080] The residual slowness can be discretized onto a gridded model so that the integral is written as a matrix equation

Δτ=ΓΔs,  [9]

[0081] wherein Γ is a matrix of ray segment lengths in a given slowness cell. The residual slowness Δs can be determined from eq. [9] using the conjugate gradient method.

[0082] Tomography is particularly applicable for complex models where overburden velocity variations which must be resolved are generally less than a cable length in the lateral extent.

[0083] Once an updated velocity model is generated, the above described steps (FIG. 1) can be applied again until most reflection events are flattened on ACIGs. Stacking flattened events over ray parameters produces optimally-focused structural images.

[0084] In another embodiment, a plurality of ACIGs are generated for each location with a suite of trial velocities {circumflex over (v)}. Each ACIG is then evaluated, for example by performing a semblance scan over the ACIG data. A best-fit trial velocity is then selected for each ACIG. The best-fit trial velocity is the velocity that best aligns the events of the ACIG horizontally. Selected best-fit velocities are then used in a velocity update process as described above.

[0085] 5. Discussion

[0086] The principle of velocity estimation is to use redundant information to feedback and therefore correct any deviations from the actual velocity model. Conventional Kirchhoff migration velocity analysis is based on flattening events along the offset axis of CRP gathers. The above-described method is based on flattening events along the ray parameter axis of Angle-Domain Common Image Gathers.

[0087] It has been observed that data of poor quality can give rise to unstable estimation results. Therefore, it is often desirable to constrain and laterally smooth the input and some intermediate parameters for stable estimation. ACIG residual scanning and automatic velocity update is most useful for preliminary velocity building before any geological horizons are identified or in areas with fine flat layering structures. Vertical velocity update can then be used to improve the velocity model based on geological horizons.

[0088] In terms of computational cost, vertical update does not require time consuming ray tracing and is most efficient. If layers are steeply dipping, normal ray update is a more accurate method to better approximate wave propagation influenced by dipping reflectors. Vertical ray updating methods assume a 1D layering structure, and both vertical and normal ray updating methods assume smooth variations in the velocity distribution. In areas with complex geological structures and large velocity variations, tomographic MVA may be applied to better determine the velocity field through linear optimization. However, the computational cost is also higher due to increased workload of ray tracing and inversion. In addition, the accuracy and reliability of ray tracing in the presence of velocity anomalies with irregular geometry and high velocity contrast should be considered.

[0089] Vertical, normal ray, and tomographic updating methods can update horizon depth positions simultaneously along with velocity in each iteration. All three methods can also be applied to multiple layers as well as layer-stripping velocity estimation. If the geological structure is consistent and velocity variations are smooth in a region, multiple layer velocity updates can be done simultaneously. However, for complex structures and large velocity variations, a layer freezing and layer stripping approach is preferred since it better conditions the estimation for each layer and prevents compounding of velocity estimation errors.

[0090] The above-described preferred method presents several advantages relative to conventional Kirchhoff Migration Velocity Analysis performed using Common Reflection Point (CRP) gathers. The presently-preferred method allows a more accurate representation of subsurface reflectivity. The ACIG events can be obtained using wave-equation migration, which implicitly takes into account multi-pathing. If generated by wave-equation migration, the ACIGs are not aliased. The second axis in a ACIG is the plane-wave incident angle at the imaging depth, which is a more precise and accurate measure of local reflectivity. This in turn simplifies tomographical raytracing, which can be started using direct angle information. Zoeppritz inversion can be performed more accurately, and residual migration can be performed directly on the ACIGs.

[0091] The above-described method is preferably implemented on a general-purpose computer. The present invention provides apparatus and general-purpose computers programmed with instructions to perform a method of the present invention, as well as computer-readable media encoding instructions to perform a method of the present invention.

[0092] It will be clear to one skilled in the art that the above embodiments may be altered in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as is apparent to the skilled artisan, actual velocities or slownesses can be used as convenient, and/or angle or ray parameter may be used as convenient. The velocity update process can be applied using all computed residual velocity values, rather than selectively using only the residuals corresponding to reflectors in the volume. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a seismic data set and a velocity model corresponding to a seismic exploration volume; b) generating a set of angle-domain common image gathers for the volume from the seismic data set and the velocity model; c) for each of the gathers, generating a plurality of moveout paths z corresponding to a plurality of residual velocity values, wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta \quad v}} \right)}^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; d) selecting a best-fit residual velocity value from the plurality of residual velocity values, the best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to a best-fit moveout path; and e) updating the velocity model using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the best-fit residual velocity value comprises the steps of: a) generating a semblance distribution for the plurality of residual velocity values; and b) selecting a maximum-semblance residual velocity value as the best-fit residual velocity value.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the moveout paths z are generated by performing residual moveout on said each of the gathers according to the angle-domain equation, whereby the moveout paths z are generated implicitly by shifting the data of said each of said gathers vertically by a depth-varying amount according to the angle-domain residual moveout equation.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein: a) each moveout path z is generated by selecting a zero-angle depth corresponding to an event path of said each of the gathers, and applying the angle-domain residual moveout equation to the zero-angle depth value to explicitly generate said each moveout path z; and b) selecting the best-fit residual velocity value comprises selecting a best-fit moveout path z that best fits over a corresponding event path of said each of the gathers.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the best-fit residual velocity value corresponds to a substantially horizontal alignment of a set of events of the best-fit moveout path.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: a) selecting a subset of best-fit residual velocity values; and b) selectively updating the velocity model using the selected subset of residual velocity values.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the subset of best-fit residual velocities corresponds to a subset of gathers along a reflective surface within the volume.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of tying the subset of residual velocities to the reflective surface.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of angle-domain common image gathers is generated by wave-equation migration.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of angle-domain common-image gathers is generated by Kirchhoff migration.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of updating the velocity model is performed along a vertical ray.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of updating the velocity model is performed along a ray normal to a reflective surface corresponding to said each of the gathers.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of updating the velocity model is performed tomographically.
 14. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) generating a set of angle-domain common image gathers for a seismic exploration volume from a seismic data set and a velocity model corresponding to the volume; b) for each of the gathers, generating a plurality of moveout paths z(z₀, p, {circumflex over (v)}, Δv), wherein Δv denotes residual velocity value, p denotes ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; c) selecting a best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to a best-fit moveout path; and d) updating the velocity model using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 15. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a seismic data set and a velocity model corresponding to a seismic exploration volume; b) generating a set of angle-domain common image gathers for the volume; c) for each of the gathers, selecting a best-fit residual velocity value Δv that corresponds to a best-fit residual moveout path z according to the angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta \quad v}} \right)}^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; and d) updating the velocity model using the best-fit residual velocity value Δv.
 16. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) establishing a seismic data set and a velocity model corresponding to a seismic exploration volume; b) generating a set of angle-domain common image gathers for the volume from the seismic data set and velocity model; c) for each of the gathers, generating a plurality of moveout paths z corresponding to a plurality of residual velocity values, each moveout path z having a set of events, each moveout path z corresponding to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta \quad v}} \right)}^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; d) selecting a best-fit residual velocity value from the plurality of residual velocity values, the best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to a best-fit moveout path having a set of substantially horizontally aligned events; and e) updating the velocity model using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 17. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) for each of a set of angle-domain common image gathers corresponding to a seismic exploration volume, generating a plurality of moveout paths z, wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta \quad v}} \right)}^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; b) selecting a best-fit residual velocity value that yields a substantially horizontal alignment of a set of events of a best-fit moveout path corresponding to the best-fit residual velocity value; and c) updating a velocity model of the seismic exploration volume using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 18. A computer system programmed to perform the steps of: a) for each of a set of angle-domain common image gathers corresponding to a seismic exploration volume, generating a plurality of moveout paths z, wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - \left( {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta v}} \right)} \right)^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; b) selecting from the plurality of moveout paths a best-fit moveout path, thereby selecting a best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to the best-fit moveout path; and c) updating a velocity model of the seismic exploration volume using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 19. A computer-readable medium encoding instructions to perform the steps of: a) for each of a set of angle-domain common image gathers corresponding to a seismic exploration volume, generating a plurality of moveout paths z,  wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - \left( {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta v}} \right)} \right)^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; b) selecting from the plurality of moveout paths a best-fit moveout path, thereby selecting a best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to the best-fit moveout path; and c) updating a velocity model of the seismic exploration volume using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 20. A geophysical data processing system comprising: a) means for generating a plurality of moveout paths z for each of a set of angle-domain common image gathers corresponding to a seismic exploration volume, wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - \left( {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta v}} \right)} \right)^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; b) means for selecting from the plurality of moveout paths a best-fit moveout path, thereby selecting a best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to the best-fit moveout path; and c) means for updating a velocity model of the seismic exploration volume using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 21. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) generating a plurality of moveout paths z for each of a set of angle-domain common image gathers corresponding to a seismic exploration volume, wherein each of the moveout paths corresponds to a residual velocity value Δv according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - \left( {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta v}} \right)} \right)^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}};$

 and b) selecting from the plurality of moveout paths a best-fit moveout path, thereby selecting a best-fit residual velocity value corresponding to the best-fit moveout path.
 22. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) for each of a set of angle-domain common image gathers corresponding to a seismic exploration volume, performing residual moveout on said each of the gathers with a suite of residual velocity values Δv, according to an angle-domain residual moveout equation ${z = {z_{0}\sqrt{\frac{1 - \left( {p^{2}\left( {\hat{v} + {\Delta v}} \right)} \right)^{2}}{1 - {p^{2}{\hat{v}}^{2}}}}}},$

 wherein p is a ray parameter, z₀=z(0) is a zero-angle depth, and {circumflex over (v)} is a trial velocity corresponding to said each of the gathers; b) selecting a best-fit residual velocity value Δv that produces a substantially horizontal alignment of events for said each of the gathers after the residual moveout; and c) updating a velocity model of the seismic exploration volume using the best-fit residual velocity value.
 23. A geophysical velocity analysis method comprising the steps of: a) generating a plurality of angle-domain common image gathers for a seismic exploration volume with a suite of trial velocities, each angle-domain common image gather being generated with one of the trial velocities; b) selecting from the suite of trial velocities a best-fit trial velocity that yields a substantially horizontal alignment of a set of events on the corresponding angle-domain common image gather; and c) updating a velocity model of the seismic exploration volume using the best-fit residual velocity value. 